Above the gate of Wuyang City, Mang Ku looked at his father with an expression of disbelief.
He looked at the refugees under the city gate. Under the random arrows, the scene was in a mess.
Countless people died under the arrows. Among them were old men over fifty years old, men as thin as firewood due to hunger, and even women and children.
Such a scene was so cruel that Mang Ku could not help but feel his heart pounding when he saw it...
"father……"
"They are just refugees. There is no way they can break down the gate of Wuyang City. Just intimidate them, why bother..." Mang Ku said.
"You know nothing!"
"The best thing about these unscrupulous people is to push the envelope. Today they can go beyond the thunder and bargain with us in the audience. If I ignore it, they will dare to come with guns and sticks tomorrow to break open the city gate! Do you believe it or not?
"Mang Huan said with a stern look on his face.
After hearing this, Mangku didn't know how to argue with his father, but he felt that fighting against these unarmed civilians was not what soldiers like them should do.
This is not a war, but more like a massacre.
"There is clearly a huge amount of grain stored in the grain depot. We can appease these people. Why do we have to make such a fuss?" Although there are doubts in my heart, for decades, Mang Ku has been accustomed to being driven by his father, but
He didn't dare to refute his father, so he could only ask another question that had been bothering him for a long time.
But this question received not Mang Huan's careful explanation, but a cold gaze.
"After so many years, you are still so stupid!" Under Mang Huan's cold gaze, Mang Ku gradually became unable to resist, and Mang Huan's voice also rang out at this time.
After hearing this, Mangku trembled, quickly lowered his head, and said: "My child is stupid, please correct me father!"
Upon hearing this, Mang Huan turned his head and glanced at Mang Ku again, with disappointment written all over his face. However, after all, this was his only son. At this moment, Mang Huan still suppressed the unhappiness in his heart and said patiently:
"My question is, where is the food?"
Mangku frowned, but still responded truthfully: "Of course it's the Wanshusi and Yuzhengsi..."
"Longxiang Mansion does have a lot of food stored in it, but it is all for military use and cannot be moved. Therefore, the food and grass for disaster relief should be provided by the Yu Zhengsi and Wanshusi..."
"The Yu Zheng Si and Wan Shu Si belong to the second prince and the crown prince respectively."
"We are on the same level as each other, and a war is inevitable. But wars rely on people, and people have to eat. Giving more rice and food means that it is time for a decisive battle between the two sides.
Whoever you think will be in the dilemma of having little money and food, who do you think would be willing to be taken advantage of?"
"You're right. These refugees don't actually have high demands. They just want a bite of food. But the problem now is that we can't give them food."
"The war between the Liao people ahead is still boiling, and the number of refugees will only increase. If we don't open the city gate today to scare them away, then tomorrow they won't come to make trouble. Why? Because we can't give them what they want.
If the quarrel continues for a long time, they will really come out with swords and guns. The current deterrent may not be a long-term solution, but it can temporarily suppress them."
"We are acting under orders. The court asked us to use any means to stabilize these refugees. The most direct and effective means we can use is this."
Mang Huan talked eloquently, but when the words he said fell into Mang Ku's ears, Mang Ku's brows furrowed even deeper.
Xu: "But my father also said that if these refugees don't get what they want, they will eventually continue to cause trouble. We can frighten them for a while, but we cannot frighten them for the rest of their lives. When the time comes, they will come to their senses.
If it comes back, wouldn't it be even more difficult to contain..."
"But haven't we already moved the capital by then?" After hearing this, Mang Huan turned his head and glanced at Mang Ku and said.
Of course, Mang Ku knew that moving the capital to the capital had already been planned by the princelings, but it was only then that he realized the cruel consequences behind these simple words.
"If the capital is moved and there is no Wuyang City to guard this area, wouldn't the Liao army be even more unscrupulous? Then wouldn't these refugees..." Mang Ku said with some horror.
"Look at these refugees, they are just displaced people. They have long been of no use to Wuyang Dynasty. Why should you care about their lives and deaths? Their death is to ensure that Wuyang Dynasty can have long-term peace and stability.
It's worth it." Mang Huan's answer seemed calm, so casual, and so natural.
Mangku didn't know how to argue with such logic.
In fact, he seemed to have no more time to think about this matter, because at the same time he heard these words, the refugees under the city wall seemed to be really frightened by Mang Huan's iron-blooded tactics and began to retreat.
"You see, these untouchables are like this. The more you give in, the more they push forward. Now that they are beaten, they know it hurts and they know how to run away." Mang Huan next to him looked down at the people retreating from the city and sneered.
road.
It seems that he is very proud of his victory...
But at this moment, the soldier beside him suddenly exclaimed: "General, it seems that those refugees are not going to retreat!"
Mang Huan was stunned. At this moment, he looked down at the city gate and saw a group of relatively strong-looking men walking out among the refugees. The number was probably over ten thousand. They were holding some hoes, sickles, and even more
What's more, he was holding a wooden stick that he found from nowhere.
And as this group of young and strong people stepped forward, more and more people came out of the refugee crowd.
And this group of people is far less capable than the young men who came forward at the beginning. There are old people, women, and even children among them.
They are unkempt, they are sallow and thin.
Their clothes are in rags and their breath is dying.
But the way they looked at this majestic city gate at this moment was so unanimous.
Determined, determined.
Then, there was a wisp of heat like a blazing fire.
It was resentment towards the court and a desire to live.
This is what makes people human.
In the face of life and death, there is no right or wrong, let alone dignity.
The leader was a man in his early thirties, the same guy who initially shouted at the city gate asking Mang Huan to open the city gate.
He has no cultivation, and you can tell from the way he speaks that he has no knowledge.
But this guy came to the stage at this time. Unlike the timid, timid, and even nervous stuttering at the beginning, the man at this time was also extremely determined.
He raised the knife in his hand high.
It's a very ordinary sword. If you randomly pick a guy among the soldiers in Wuyang City, the sword they carry will be replaced by the man's hand. This sword is more than ten times more valuable.
But this is already the most decent weapon among this group of refugees.
Just such a group of people
, that is, guys equipped with such uneven weapons, are now walking towards the gate of Wuyang City with firm steps.
They did not chant any profound slogans, nor did they make any encouraging remarks before the war.
They just walked together, muttering only two words: "Open the door!"
"Open the door!"
"Open the door!"
A common will was gathered together, even though they were just a group of refugees, the momentum displayed at this time made the man at the city gate who was still boasting just now panic.
He felt that the impregnable city beneath his feet seemed to be beginning to tremble...
"What are you doing standing still! Load the arrow!" And for truly cowardly people, the best way to face fear is to pretend to be calm.
Mang Ku shouted angrily at the surrounding soldiers.
The soldiers around him came to their senses after hearing this, and one after another they cocked their sharp arrows.
"Who ordered the arrow to be released!" At this moment, a deep voice suddenly came from behind the father and son.
Both Mang Ku and Mang Huan were stunned. At this moment, they both looked sideways and looked behind them. They saw that the person coming was no one else. It was the Crown Prince Li who had caused the father and son a lot of trouble and hated him deeply!
Li Shizi quickly walked up to the tower with a gloomy face. He looked at Mang Ku and Mang Huan. The father and son also looked at Li Danqing at this time. Their eyes met. Li Danqing said with a serious expression:
"The two generals who are responsible for defending the city today? Then you should be able to answer my questions, right? Who ordered the arrow to be released?"
Li Danqing's attitude was aggressive, with a questioning tone in his tone.
Mang Huan has been in a high position for many years, how could he tolerate such an attitude?
He narrowed his eyes and said in a deep voice: "Prince Li has such great official authority! I am the general responsible for guarding the city gate. Naturally, I gave the order to shoot the arrows. Does the Crown Prince have any advice?"
"Is it you?" Li Danqing blinked and seemed a little surprised.
When Mang Huan saw this, he secretly thought that Li Danqing was intimidated by his identity.
After all, although Li Danqing has been somewhat proud of himself these days, at the same time, there are more and more voices criticizing him for refusing to send troops. Even Lu Chenji and Xiang Luowen, who were originally unwilling to deal with it, have reached a consensus.
We must work together to deal with Li Danqing.
If Li Danqing had some perspective, he would have understood his situation and would not dare to act arrogantly in front of him at this time.
But just as Mang Huan had always misjudged Li Danqing, this time he was no exception.
"That's good. It saves you the trouble of looking for someone. Come here and tie him up!" He said this, and several Xuanwu Army soldiers behind him who were brought by him stepped out at this moment, making a gesture.
Capture Mang Huan.
Neither Manghuan nor Mangku expected such a scene.
The father and son were startled, and the bodyguard beside Mang Huan also came to his senses and drew his sword one after another.
Mangku also looked at Li Danqing and shouted angrily: "Li Danqing! Are you going to rebel?"
Hearing this, Li Danqing turned his head and glanced at the refugees who were walking under the city gate, and also at the people who were already lying in a pool of blood.
Prince Li, who was used to laughing and scolding, now looked cold, almost ferocious.